The Argentina soccer team lost 2-1 against Uruguay in the first match after Lionel Messi's departure. The loss was recorded in a half-empty La Bombonera Stadium, the home stadium of Boca Juniors; The atmosphere in the stadium was more like a training session with spectators than a national game.
According to the Argentine media, the third floor of this stadium in Buenos Aires was empty and its doors were not even opened. There wasn't much excitement in the stadium for Scaloni's team.
Argentina's Nation newspaper wrote that without Messi, the Argentine Football Association has lost one of its most important sources of fan support.
According to this newspaper, despite the 25-45% reduction in the price of most tickets for the game between Argentina and Uruguay, the La Bombonera stadium remained half empty for Argentina's first match without Messi. At certain moments, even the stadium's electronic board did not work.
On the other hand, there was no plan to honor Scalloni and Messi. Although the players wore shirts to pay tribute to Messi.